|
Summary
A coalition of eight local governments today filed a lawsuit in federal court in Seattle challenging the Trump administration’s unlawful action that imposes new conditions on previously awarded grants without congressional approval.
Story
Today, a coalition of eight local governments, including King County, filed a lawsuit in U.S. District Court for the Western District of Washington against the Trump administration’s Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) and the Department of Transportation Federal Transit Administration (FTA). The lawsuit challenges the Trump administration’s addition of unlawful conditions in order to receive federal funding for public transit and homelessness assistance, putting at risk critical services for residents.
The lawsuit states that new funding stipulations added by the heads of federal agencies are unconstitutional and an overreach by the executive branch, which does not have the authority to change federal grant conditions without Congress' explicit approval.
Despite this, the Trump administration has added several unlawful conditions to the HUD Continuum of Care grant and the FTA Master Agreement, which cover grants King County was awarded to provide housing support and transit operations for its residents.
“I have a duty to fully enforce the law and protect these important services for our residents,” said King County Executive Shannon Braddock. “That’s why we are joining other jurisdictions from around the country to ensure the administration can’t disregard congressionally approved processes and bully local governments to comply with their political agenda at the expense of being able to deliver critical services.”
Apart from violating federal law, the new requirements from the administration would force King County and other local governments to make legal promises that conflict with local laws and values, and make it difficult to serve our residents. These include conditions related to immigration status, health care, and diversity, equity, and inclusion.
The lawsuit filed today also resists efforts by the Trump administration to coerce local governments into accepting unlawful grant conditions. For example, if King County agreed to the administration’s demands to eliminate diversity, equity, and inclusion practices, any violation of the federal terms could make the county liable to the federal government for three times the amount of the grant — further endangering critical services for county residents.
King County joins a national coalition of local jurisdictions — including Pierce and Snohomish counties in Washington state, the City and County of San Francisco, Santa Clara County, New York City, Boston, and Columbus in bringing suit to declare the Trump administration’s actions unlawful.
The plaintiffs will also file a temporary restraining order on May 5 that, if granted, would block HUD and the FTA from imposing or enforcing the unauthorized grant conditions, and anticipate a court ruling by the end of the week.
The complaint can be found online here.
|
